Project Description
The Town of Waitsfield has an opportunity to install a 102.3 kW photovoltaic solar array on municipally-owned land that will produce enough renewable energy to offset the needs of the following municipal buildings:
- New Town Office, 4144 Main Street
- Waitsfield Elementary School
- Wait House, 4061 Main Street
- Waitsfield-Fayston Fire Station, 4103 Main Street
- Town Garage, 761 Tremblay Road
- Joslin Memorial Library/Town Office, 4391 Main Street and 9 Bridge Street
The proposed 102-kilowatt, 330-panel solar array has been sized to provide enough locally sourced renewable energy to support Waitsfield Elementary School and what is believed to be soon, Vermont's first "net zero" Town Office building. In partnership with Aegis, a Waitsfield-based and locally-owned renewable energy company, the Town will be applying for a state Clean Energy Development Fund (CEDF) grant after the bond vote to offset the cost of the solar array and provide a secure investment for the town in producing its own energy for its municipal buildings.
"The Town will be partnering with Waitsfield Elementary School as a group net-metered solar array, building on the energy-efficiency improvements made over the last couple of years and providing a secure, sustainable path for the school's electricity budget," said Chris Badger, Waitsfield Energy Coordinator. "The solar array offers an educational tool for the school's curriculum – an example capturing elements of science, engineering and math. If this effort is successful, the installation of the town solar array and resulting solar generation will provide an anticipated net annual average savings of approximately $4,000 for the town over the life of the 20-year bond," said Badger. In 2013 Vermont led the nation in solar jobs per capita and Waitsfield has been one of the leaders in the state for installed solar capacity installed per capita, so this project will continue to advance this welcome recognition of individual and now municipal efforts around our renewable future.
- Pre-Bond Vote PDF Presentation by Aegis Renewable Energy, May 5, 2014
Bond Vote
WARNING
The legal voters of the Town of Waitsfield, Vermont, are hereby notified and warned to meet at the Waitsfield Elementary School on Tuesday, May 6, 2014, between the hours of seven o'clock (7:00) in the forenoon (a.m.), at which time the polls will open, and seven o'clock (7:00) in the afternoon (p.m.), at which time the polls will close, to vote by Australian ballot upon the following Article of business:
ARTICLE I
Shall general obligation bonds of the Town of Waitsfield in an amount not to exceed Three Hundred Fifty-Five Thousand Dollars ($355,000), subject to reduction from the receipt of available state and federal grants-in-aid, or other financial assistance, be issued for the purpose of financing the construction of a solar array of up to120 kW on the Town Garage site at 761 Tremblay Road at an estimated cost of Three Hundred Fifty-Five Thousand Dollars ($355,000)?
The legal voters of the Town of Waitsfield are further notified that voter qualification, registration and absentee voting relative to said special meeting shall be as provided in Chapters 43, 51 and 55 of Title 17, Vermont Statutes Annotated.
The legal voters of the Town of Waitsfield are further notified that an informational meeting will be held on Monday, May 5, 2014 at the Waitsfield Elementary School in the Town of Waitsfield at 7:00 o'clock p.m. in the evening, for the purpose of explaining the proposed 120 kW solar array project and the financing thereof.
Adopted and approved at a special meeting of the Selectboard of the Town of Waitsfield duly called, noticed, and held on March 27, 2014. Received for record and recorded in the records of the Town of Waitsfield on the 27th day of March, 2014.
WAITSIFIELD SELECTBOARD
Frequently Asked Questions
Documents & Links
Documents
Waitsfield Town Plan Chapter 9. Energy, adopted Oct. 22, 2012
Certificate of Public Good Application
Selectboard Meeting Minutes
March 24, 2014
March 27, 2014
April 14, 2014
April 28, 2014
Press Coverage
Waitsfield and Warren consider solar arrays, The Valley Reporter, 03/27/2014
Waitsfield Selectboard advances solar array vote, The Valley Reporter, 04/03/2014
Solar bond votes for Waitsfield and Warren, The Valley Reporter, 05/01/2014
In My View, The Valley Reporter, 05/01/2014
Letters of Support
Mad River Path Association
Mad River Valley Chamber of Commerce
Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission
Waitsfield Energy Coordinator and Energy Committee
Waitsfield Planning Commission
Mad River Valley Conservation Partnership
Contacts
Town Administrator
TREVOR M. LASHUA
Waitsfield Town Office
4144 Main Street
Waitsfield, VT 05673
Phone: (802) 496-2218
Fax: (802) 496-9284
E-mail: [email protected]
CEO
NILS BEHN
Aegis Renewable Energy
340 Mad River Park, Suite 6
Waitsfield, VT 05673
Phone: (802) 496-5155
E-mail: [email protected]